Wolverhampton has reversed the national decline in healthy life expectancy, with figures for 2022 to 2024 showing significant improvements for both men and women.
Healthy life expectancy — the number of years people can expect to live in good health — rose to 59.2 years for men in Wolverhampton, up from 57.6 years in the previous measurement period. For women, the figure increased to 58.3 years, compared with 56.7 years previously.
The city achieved the largest increase in healthy life expectancy of any of the 13 West Midlands councils. Wolverhampton is no longer significantly different from the England average, reversing earlier health disparities.
Community-based initiatives delivering results
The improvements have been supported by targeted interventions delivered across the city. Community-based liver scanning programmes and health improvement support delivered through trusted local venues including places of worship, libraries and barbershops have helped people access support earlier and overcome barriers to care.
Broader factors driving health gains
Improving healthy life expectancy depends on more than lifestyle change alone. The council and partners have focused on improving employment, education, income, housing and environmental factors — all of which have seen improvements in Wolverhampton in recent years.
Councillor Stephen Simkins, council leader, said the figures show "more people in Wolverhampton feel in good health, and are able to enjoy healthier lives for longer" at a time when many parts of the country are seeing healthy life expectancy fall.
